Pires provides a timely boost

Group A: How they stand Arsenal v Auxerre Joyous celebrations are guaranteed at Highbury this evening, and not because it is Arsene Wenger's 53rd birthday.

Robert Pires is in Arsenal's squad for the first time since a serious right knee ligament injury seven months ago and is expected to play some part from the bench.

Even if Wenger's team beat Auxerre to guarantee a place in the second group stage, no cheer will be louder than the one welcoming back Pires.

His return is the ideal antidote to Saturday's defeat at Everton.

"He brings vision," Wenger said. "He has a great work-rate and special passing. We feel more fluent when he is on the pitch.

"He brings that kind of oil in the engine that makes it happen. And he is generous. He likes to give people around him a good ball."

Pires appeared last week in a specially arranged friendly against Queens Park Rangers, scoring one goal and setting up another in a 5-1 win. When he had his operation on April 25th, he was told not to play for six months and Wenger hardly seemed worried about throwing the 29-year-old straight into the Champions League.

"I feel that sometimes what helps you to forget is the adrenalin," Wenger said. "Of course, the first steps are apprehensive and you wonder about getting a nasty tackle. But sometimes when you throw in a guy like that he does not have time to think about it. He just plays."

Pires has used the Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as his inspiration on the road back to fitness.

"Other players got injured like me and managed to be back on top," he said. "I am thinking about players like Ruud van Nistelrooy for example. And when I see what he's done, I think, why not me?

"I am ready to play, I have been ready for a few days already and the manager knows it. Of course, I am going to need some time to get back to my top level. I will certainly be scared to suffer a relapse."

Wenger had a similar injury early in his playing career and knows Pires will need time to adjust, though the player gets no special treatment in training.

"We certainly tackle him," said Pascal Cygan. "He's had a couple of knocks on his knee, but has just got up and carried on."

Wenger said his side felt "disappointment" and "shock" when their unbeaten run ended at Goodison and expects a positive reaction tonight.

"We have not come to a full stop," he said. "We have maybe just taken our foot off the accelerator slighty.

"It is not exactly like a car that has hit a tree at 160 m.p.h. I think it can help to motivate us for this match. It can strengthen your desire to bounce back and be even stronger."

Wenger is still without Dennis Bergkamp, has lost Francis Jeffers to illness and has doubts over Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell and Patrick Vieira, though they are expected to play.

Auxerre arrive without a point and are likely to be defensive, looking to strike on the break. A draw will put Arsenal through if PSV do not win in Dortmund.

ARSENAL (4-4-2, probable): Seaman; Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole; Wiltord, Gilberto Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg; Kanu, Henry.

AUXERRE (4-4-2, probable): Cool; Radet, Boumsong, Mexes, Jaures; Lachuer, Tainio, Faye, Fadiga; Kapo, Benjani.

Previous results

Sep 17th Auxerre 0 PSV 0

Arsenal 2 Dortmund 0

Sep 25th Dortmund 2 Auxerre 1

PSV 0 Arsenal 4

Oct 2nd Auxerre 0 Arsenal 1

PSV 1 Dortmund 3

Remaining fixtures

Tonight: Arsenal v Auxerre

Dortmund v PSV

Oct 30th: PSV v Auxerre

Dortmund v Arsenal

Nov 12th: Auxerre v Dortmund

Arsenal v PSV